Catalog (173)

This large antique Japanese would have been used in rural villages by the peasants who would go into the fields and hills to collect various herbs. Hand woven from grape vine bark, the basket has rope handle which also goes through loops at the bottom of the basket to provide added support for the weight.

Really rare ethnographic item in unusually good condition. the basket alone measures roughly 18 inches x 12 inches x 3+ inches...

Floral embroidery in several shades of blue silk thread decorate this white silk sleeve band. Mostly embroidered with satin stitch, there is a rose embroidered with peking knots and high-lighted with gold couching. There is some slight discoloration on the white silk border which could easily be avoided in framing. Embroidered area measures 4" x 16 full panel measures 7" x 32

According to the writing on the back, this small embroidered pencil holder in was made in 1897 by a Mrs Lee for M.J. Thomas who was a member of the Chinese Chicago Mission group. The embroidery stitches are tiny and some of the threads are frayed but it is a warm memento of friendship and an artifact from another era in relations between China and the US.

Lovely silk embroidered rondel cut from an antique 19th century Chinese robe. Intricate satin stitch depict 2 figures in the center surrounded by gold bouillon tread used for couching background. Diameter is approximately 8.75 inches ...Piece is in very good condition...no rips no tears

A properly dressed Chinese woman would wear a pair of leggings that would cover her foot bindings from her lower leg to the top of her lotus shoes. The leggings would be tied into place with a hand woven sash made specifically for that purpose. These lotus shoe accessories are now rare and very hard to find.

This pair of silk sashes were were woven with a floral pattern using 2 colors of brightly contrasting threads. The long warp end threads are braided into tassels. This pair is in excelle...

The variety and types of embroidery stitches on this antique Chinese hat are old typically Miao minority. Probably done by dotting grandmother. The silver ornaments, the butterfly, the bubbles are symbolic of the Miao myth regarding the birth of the human race. The hat shows some dirt but is otherwise in good condition.

Manchu women never practiced foot-binding. However, during the Qing dynasty, they did wear pedestal aka platform shoes, hoping to give the appearance of smaller feet. These shoes would give the woman a more careful walk which was perceived as dainty and more sensual. In addition, the tips of the shoes would appear to peak out from under the robes, giving the foot more dainty appearance. These shoes are embroidered on both sides with a floral motif. They are in good condition, showing minimal ...

According to my Miao friends, these coin purses were often made by a girl as a gift to a prospective boyfriend...and depending on where and how he wore the purse, it would indicate his feeling for her... they can be sold separately or in multiples 1 piece  $175 plus shipping  2 pieces $325 plus shipping 3 pieces $450 plus shipping 4 pieces $525 plus shipping

This antique Chinese hand carved wooden bobbin still has a length of home spun thread which winds around the middle. The bobbin shows extensive use, with some areas of paint and finish heavily patinated and other areas just worn away.

This old Japanese hand made sack (basket,bag) was made by a rural farmer or fisherman out of cotton cording. Handle holes were worked into the upper band which would have allowed for the changing of worn out handles. There is obvious wear and fading from use and age. The bag measures almost 11 x 15 inches It is Wonderful old ethnographic example of rural Japanese textile folk art

This is a traditional Qing Dynasty woman's skirt. Chines skirts during this time period were made in 2 sections which were "buttoned" together with "frogs" The skirt was then wrapped around the hips so that the flat sections were displayed at at the front and back....the pleated sections were at draped the sides... The background fabric of this skirt is an unusually fine jacquard silk but the pattern of the jacquard does not show in the pics....the pleated sections of the skirt and also meti...

This small embroidered wallet style purse would have been used by a traditional Han Chinese woman to carry coins during the Qing dynasty. There are pockets on each side of the purse. And the all satin stitched embroidery is also on each side of the wallet.

This baby carrier is from the Miao ethnic minority of Qui Yang. Characteristic of the antique Miao baby carriers from this area, the surface decoration is composed of very tiny cross stitches which form geometric embroidery pattern which, to Western eyes, resemble snowflakes. Because of the time required to produce and the attractive appearance of this style baby carrier, they were used mostly for festivals and are now highly prized by both Westerners and Chinese.

This baby carriers is in ...

This hand woven traditional childs top was worn by the children of China's Yi ethnic minority group living in Ma Li Po. It is in excellent condition with wonderfully detail batik work

This pair of traditional short boots were made and worn by the Miao women of Anshun. They are in very good condition but the upper boot areas have some soiling and the soles show signs of wear.

Small embroidery with central floral motif using seed stitch, on traditional dark blue silk fabric. May have been used on garment as inside pocket. Approx 6.5 inches on each side.

This man's beaded hat aka skullcap is typical of the Pashtun people in the region of Southern Afganistan. Because of the extensive beading pattern, it is rather stiff and heavy.

Presumably, the interior layer of fabric was from pieced of fabric from other garments.

This is a wonderful Qing Dynasty child's hat from Shui minority group in the Rong Jiang area. It is traditional looking Chinese cap style made with silk fabric and silk split thread embroidery, and top knot. This hat is over 100 years old, and has wonderfully soft patina, and shows some wear. Truely charming

This apron would be worn for festival by young woman, recently married and hoping to become pregnant or in the early stage of pregnancy. After the baby is born, the straps will be relocated so that the apron is converted to a baby carrier. The coin bottom border is show hope for good fortune for the baby. The 3 tassles on the end of the apron straps are show hope for eventually having 3 children. The butterfly is considered the mother of the Miao people.

Used as a "top coat" by a Han Chinese person. Lush black satin weave silk fabric, ornate frog closures, original matching streamers, wide embroidered sleeve panels using metalic covered thread and couching technique. Pristine condition... seal from Chinese Gov agency certifies age to be 100+ years...I bought in China in the late 90's

This rare antique bag was made and used by the Yi ethnic minority... It was made from hand corded plant fiber,tied into a series of knots to form a shallow sack. Originally there would have been a fabric shoulder strap which would have been tied around the loops on either side of the top of the bag... The front of the bag is decorated with a traditional silver ornament depicting a butterfly. The bag is in tact: no holes, or rips but is dirty from use and age....

Very nice old Maru Japanese Obi in excellent condition. Neutral colors throughout the delicate weave of repeat scenes of cart

This elaborate antique embroidery panel is from Gujrat India and would have been used as a dowery quilt. It is backed with soft aged (now muted) cotton fabric, leaving a 4 inch border surrounding the embroidery. The gold and silver metallic threads are also somewhat subdued and blended giving the panel a soft and somewhat muted appearance which is very pleasing. It is rare to find these old textiles from India intact as many of them where cut up into smaller sections and sold to textile colle...

This charming old Chinese headband was handmade for a small child sometime in the late Qing dynasty. It is one of the nicest animal headbands that I have seen, and it is in good condition. The cat's face would have been worn at the child's forehead and is 3 dimensional. Made with silk fabric, with silk thread for the elaborately embroidery, the face is complete with ears that flap, and side paws. Opened at the back seam for easy framing, it can easily be re-sewn to fit display stand.

This vamps of this lovely pair of Chinese Lotus shoes, aka bound feet shoes, are embroidered all around with butterflies and flowers. The soles are covered with fabric and leather...the heels are covered with leather which is nailed into place to call attention to the wearers movements when walking. Very condition ... one small rip in fabric at the back of one heel. Measures barely 4 inches.

lovely very finely woven Bolivian textile from the collection of Dr Evan Maurer. pristine condition main section of belt is 2.25 inches wide and 18 inches long... plus delicately woven narrow strap tie on one side 18 inches... narrow strap tie from other side is 10 inches

This pair of earmuffs are kept together with a silk ribbon. Worn to protect the ears in winter, the outer side has delicate embroidered flower motif, and the inside is slightly padded and has ear pockets which slip of the ears.

This brightly colored child's hat is Dong ethnic minority. The front is decorated with 9 silver Buddha ornaments and lots of intricate embroidery. Tassels and pompoms decorate the sides and silver bells with fish ornaments across the back protect the child from the approach of evil spirits.

This intricate floral embroidery panel may have been part of a larger piece which probably predates the carved frame that now houses the panel. The background silk is a rich dark brown and the ornate floral display can be positioned either horizontally or vertically. During the framing process, sometime between 1900-1920, The fragment was glued to a cardboard backing...where it remains today... 10.5 inches x 23 inches includes frame

This is a charming traditional Chinese child's "wind hat" so called because of the protection the hat gives to the back of the neck. The silk threads of the satin stitched embroidery depict lots of flowers and butterflies. Hat is in good condition

During the 1800's and early 1900's, "Rocaille beads" from southern France were brought into the coastal regions of southern China and used to bead various accessory articles such as headbands purses and shoes... The area of China known as the "staits" became famous for such beaded items. . The Straits Chinese referred to the beads as manek potong ('cut beads') and acquired them from street peddlers and specialist merchants for the purpose of beading and embroidery. this pair of beaded str...

This is presumed to be central panel taken from 100 bird coat from the Bai Ling area. It has been bordered and backed by new fabric. The central panel is very tightly split-thread satin-stitched embroidery over a silk felted (non-woven) fabric. This piece is in pristine condition, and measures approximately 30" by 30"

This Miao Baby carrier is from the Bai Ling region of China. As is typical of this region, the straps are embroidered. This attractive piece was probably only used for a few festivals before being stored away for the next generations use. In excellant condition, it measures 38" long.

There are many hopes expressed in this baby carrier: red cotton background fabric for the joy of having the baby, the yellow golden embroidered thread patterned in sun symbols and swirling lines throughout the carrier are the wind blowing the bees and pollen around the fields for a sucessfull harvest. Carrier is divided by a strip of very fine needlepoint for added strength. The upper portion of the carrier covers the baby's head from elements and lower portion supports for baby's body. piece ...

The quilted lower portion of the vamp indicates that this pair of shoes are from northern China, and the shape of the heel dates them to before 1910. Clearly somewhat used, they are a wonderful artifact of a time and cultural practice from the past.

Chinese Miao Ethnic Minority blanket panal from Huang Ping. Approx 35 years old and excellent condition. Home spun cotton fabric pieced and appliqued. panel size approx 35 inches x 48 inches...the original border/bed overhang fabric (plain black) has been cut down and sewn to form a frame for the panel.

This antique Chinese civil rank badge has the golden goose representing 4th rank. Embroidered using brick stitch this badge is has a fret background,key border and is decorated with bats, turtles and flowers. Curiously the sun is missing but the badge is old and still has the remnants of a few threads which were used to sew it to the front of the robe. The badge has traditional blue silk lining and is in excellent condition. This badge was brought back from China by Rebecca Cloud-Stewart Mi...

In China, collars where made separately from the robe or garment. As such, the so-called cloud collars were used much like a necklace, allowing a single collar to be worn over various robes. This is a traditional Han Chinese style collar dates to the Qing dynasty period. The background fabric is white silk, bordered with black rolled trim. The collar is very finely embroidered with silk thread using predominately the satin embroidery stitch. Additional gold threads are used in a couching embroid...

This wonderful pair of lotus shoes are typical of boots from Shandong. They have a black cuff with hand-embroidered butterfly motif and the remanents of a thin pink woven band. The blue vamp is somewhat faded toward the front of the boot and has delicately embroidered butterfly on each side. The soles have worn leather heels. The inside silk lining is bright pink and in very good condition.

This pair of Lotus Shoes have a lotus blossom embroidered on each side of the white silk vamp. Used and showing many signs of wear, they are also a bit are dirtier than they appear in the pictures. One of the leather heels is missing. They measure just a bit over 5" heel to toe tip. Chinese women made their own shoes....White silk shoes, carefully embroidered, clearly made with hopes and dreams for the future....considering the dirt and wear, it appears that life did not go as she had hoped...

Tradition Lotus shaped Chinese silk pillow Fret pattern Embroidered background with dragons and other creatures using both satin stitch and couching with gold metallic covered thread.... Some fading and some wear around the edge... roughly 8 x 14 inches A note on displaying textiles… When framing Chinese textiles….do not allow your framer to glue the textile to any kind of backing board… Instead have the textile basted (sewn) to a piece of complimentary background fabric…and the...

This traditional antique Chinese childs top was made using a fine, deep royal blue damask silk with black silk trim. From a wealthy family, this top was padded for winter use, has all the original frog and monkey fist knot closures, and a hand embroidered rondel with lots of couching and seed stitches (aka forbidden stitch)

This small Chinese hand made purse would have been made by a woman for her personal use or possibly as a gift to a female friend. It was made using cotton background fabric and hand embroidered with silk thread on each side. The butterfly and floral motifs were made with silk thread using a combination of satin stitches, chain stitches and couching embroidery techniques.

It is a charming example of a Chinese woman's needlework and is in excellent condition. Each side opens separately and me...

This home made traditional (old fashioned) would have been hung on furniture door pulls for added decoration in Han Chinese home...full lenght is 30 inches...upper disc is 2 inches diameter 3 dimensional ball ia 3 inches diameter...made from fine silk fabric scrapes

This blanket shaped Miao ethnic minority baby carrier is from Jian He and is a good example of the whorl pattern which was so significant to the Chinese Minority. Made from hand-loomed plant fibers (maybe cotton, maybe bast fibers) the surface is heavily decorated with appliques edged with chain stitching. This carrier is in good condition showing a minimum of wear and dirt and it 80+ years old

Barely used, this baby head cover was once attached to the upper part of a baby carrier so that it could be raised around the baby's head to protect it from the hot sun during a festival. Hand batiked with hand embroidered details, the border is decorated with rows of the tiniest hand stitching. measures 13.5 x 14.5 inches

Fleece-lined and hand-made using the old fashioned traditional Chinese methods, only the mid 20th century fabric of the lining and ears identify these shoes as a later made at a later time period. They were probably made by a dotting grandmother and were well worn by a young child.

This old pair of Chinese shoes were made for a small child. Appliqued onto the red cotton background fabric are bits of trim and cotton fabric which give the appearance of a cats face. Gold thread is used in a couching embroidery stitch for the design on the both sides of each shoe.

Meticulously embroidered panel for baby carrier that never got finished.. and was packed away to be finished later...probably by a loving grandmother, and then backed and border probably her daughter for sale. Miao people in the region of Zhi Jin including border ...measures 20 x 23.5 inches the last 2 pics are of the back side of the embroidery

very nice old beaded choker/armband in good condition. measures 2.25 x 13.5 inches

This Miao Chinese ethnic minority jacket would have been worn by a teenage girl for festival. All the batik work was hand-painted and all stitches and embroidery was done by hand. The row of silver hemisphere's across the back represent the "bubble" in the Miao creation myth.

The jacket is approx 70 years old and is from Zhi Jin

This small purse was made by Miao girl to be given to "boyfriend"...If he accepts and wears the purse on his belt...he favors her. The embroidery stitch is called Daiz but westerners know it as Peking knot aka forbidden stitch. 5.5 x 3 excellant condition

This Manchu style jacket is out of Northern China during the late Qing Dynasty...Hand loomed heavy weight cotton fabric with wool sleeve borders and embroidery trim. fits small woman...and makes an impressive wall display